Love them or hate them, scooters are staying in Denver indefinitely

Denver’s dockless scooters have been rolling on a deadline. No more.

City officials originally said that scooter apps such as Lime and Bird could operate in Denver until July 31, 2019. Now the city is taking steps to allow them on the streets indefinitely.

City staff established a temporary set of rules last summer after the companies shocked Denver’s government by deploying the vehicles without permission.

The year-long “pilot program” was meant to test how riders would behave, and how the city might manage thousands of scooters and electric bikes.

Apparently, Denver Public Works likes what it saw. The pilot program will extend into August, according to city spokesperson Heather Burke, as the city prepares to permanently legalize the wheelie gadgets in September.

Over the last year, the city has allowed the scooter population to grow to 2,840, plus 500 dockless bikes. The city also has tried to encourage the companies to distribute bikes to neighborhoods outside of downtown, and the Denver City Council passed a law to allow scooters into bike lanes at speeds up to 30 mph. Denver Parks and Recreation also decided to allow scooters onto greenways such as the Cherry Creek Trail under a temporary rule.

Denver has collected $128,250 in permit fees from the five scooter operators: Bird, Lime, Lyft, Razor and Spin. Meanwhile, the operators have continued to invest in Denver, including with more rugged scooter models.

The vehicles have encountered some resistance, including near Coors Field, where the Colorado Rockies have banned riding scooters and bikes on Blake Street during games. They have caused the occasional confrontation — including an infamous slapping incident — and some serious injuries, especially because most riders don’t wear helmets.

Misplaced scooters also block sidewalks, a difficulty in particular for people with disabilities; the businesses have responded by asking users to submit photos of their parking jobs. But mobility advocates say they are a promising way to get people moving for shorter distances where transit isn’t ideal.

The city will publish more details about scooter usage and the new permitting program in the weeks ahead.